UCO Honors 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Oct. 22, 2026
The University of Central Oklahoma recently honored six graduates whose achievements span business, journalism, youth advocacy, audiovisual production, healthcare and forensic medicine at the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
This year’s recipients are Steve Bradshaw, Jenny Wagnon Courts, Jennifer Goodrich, Brad Poarch, Jolee Suddock, D.O., and Peggy Tipton. The award recognizes alumni for their professional accomplishments, community leadership and service to the university.
Bradshaw, retired president and CEO of BOK Financial, built a career in financial services centered on growth, collaboration and trust. After earning his bachelor’s degree in finance from UCO in 1982, he developed an investment business that became part of BOK Financial in 1991. He advanced through the organization before becoming president and CEO in 2014. Beyond banking, Bradshaw and his wife, Marla, have supported community initiatives and helped lead fundraising efforts for the Tulsa Area United Way.
Wagnon Courts serves as director of news services at ABC News in New York City, overseeing a team that distributes news content to more than 200 affiliates and clients. Her career includes 17 years at KWTV in Oklahoma City, public information work for the Edmond Police Department and investigative producing for ABC News. She contributed to “Uvalde 365,” the network’s sustained reporting on the aftermath of the Robb Elementary School shooting. An Edmond native with deep family ties to Central, she credits UCO’s broadcasting program with preparing her for the demands of a professional newsroom.
Goodrich serves as president and CEO of Pivot, an Oklahoma City nonprofit supporting young people experiencing homelessness, family instability and other challenges. Since joining the organization in 1999, she has helped expand access to counseling, emergency shelter, workforce development and housing. Goodrich earned both her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in community counseling from UCO.
Poarch is CEO and an owner of Cory’s Audio Visual, an Oklahoma-based business founded by his grandfather in 1953. Drawing on his experience in UCO’s theatre department and as an audio engineer at Mitchell Hall Theatre, he helped the company evolve from equipment rental into audiovisual production and integrated technology services. His work has supported events and experiences throughout Oklahoma, including UCO commencement ceremonies. He remains connected to Central through professional partnerships and opportunities to share career guidance with students.
Suddock serves as a forensic neuropathologist with the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Board-certified in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, forensic pathology and neuropathology, she combines death investigation with specialized expertise in diseases and injuries of the brain and nervous system. She earned degrees in forensic science and biology from UCO, where a student rotation at the medical examiner’s office helped establish her career. She now supports the next generation through teaching and mentorship, including opportunities for UCO students.
Tipton serves as chief operating officer of Oklahoma Heart Hospital, bringing a nursing background and a commitment to patient care to healthcare leadership. A Henryetta, Oklahoma, native, she was drawn to UCO’s nursing program and began her career caring for patients at the bedside. That experience continues to shape her approach to hospital operations, emphasizing quality, patient satisfaction and the needs of the people receiving care. Her leadership supports the hospital’s mission of serving Oklahoma while advancing nationally recognized cardiovascular care.
“These six graduates reflect the enduring value of a Central education and the extraordinary things that happen when talent meets opportunity. Through their leadership, service and dedication to others, they are creating momentum that reaches far beyond our campus and opening doors for those who follow,” said Allen Wright, vice president for Advancement at UCO.
“As a UCO alumnus and a past Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, I know how meaningful it is to be recognized by the university that helped shape your path. This honor celebrates what these graduates have accomplished and the possibilities their example creates for today’s students. They remind us that Central’s greatest impact lives in its people, and that together, we can carry that momentum into an even stronger future.”
Recipients are selected by a committee based on nominations recognizing professional achievement, community involvement and university service. UCO has presented the Distinguished Alumni Awards annually since 1952, with the exception of 2020.
For more information about the UCO Distinguished Alumni Awards, contact UCO Alumni Engagement at alumni@uco.edu.
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Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma recently honored six graduates whose achievements span business, journalism, youth advocacy, audiovisual production, healthcare and forensic medicine at the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards. The 2026 recipients include, pictured, left to right, Steve Bradshaw, Jenny Wagnon Courts, Jolee Suddock, D.O., Jennifer Goodrich, Brad Poarch and Peggy Tipton.
